Segerstrom High coach Erasmo Ramirez, who played for the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics and Florida Marlins, brings a sense of community to the Jaguars &#8216; program. FILE PHOTO

When Erasmo Ramirez decided to retire after a 10-year career as a professional baseball player, including three in the majors as a relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics and Florida Marlins, he said that he had plenty of options.

“I had opportunities to coach in college and I’ve always had the door open for me to return to professional baseball and coach in the minor leagues,” Ramirez said.

But instead of choosing to coach at the professional or collegiate level, he decided to give back to the community where he made his name and become the baseball coach at Segerstrom High School in Santa Ana.

Ramirez returned to the place where he grew up, where he had tweaked and honed his pitching mechanics at Saddleback High School and a place not many in his position would choose to return to in order to show the kids of the community that anything is possible.

“One of the biggest reasons why I wanted to come back was to be able to help out the kids of our community,” Ramirez said. “I went on and played at Cal State Fullerton, played pro ball for 10 years and pitched in the big leagues for three, and there aren’t too many guys in our community who want to come back and coach at this level.”

There probably weren’t many people who were ready and willing to inherit a program just three years removed from its maiden season, either.

Ramirez took over the Segerstrom program in 2010. Like any newly opened school, Segerstrom had struggled in its first three years of varsity competition, going 26-51 before Ramirez took over.

The Jaguars’ growing pains continued during Ramriez’s first couple of years at the helm.

Segerstrom finished 11-14 and missed the playoffs in 2010 and went 6-20 and missed the playoffs in 2011.

But the 2012 season is when things started to click at Segerstrom. The Jaguars finished with a 17-10 record and advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2009 and just the second time in school history.

In 2013, Segerstrom again won 17 games and notched its first playoff win in school history in a 5-3 win over Redondo Union of Redondo Beach.

The Jaguars are 8-7 this season, and Ramirez has them believing that they’re just as good as anybody else.

Joseph Najera, a senior pitcher who has played under Ramirez since his sophomore season, said the biggest reason why Segerstrom has become a threat is the change of culture that Ramirez has instilled.

“I love Coach,” Najera said. “One thing I like is that he brings that pro edge to us. (The atmosphere) is different. It’s all about working hard. His intensity is always there. I know that when I’m on the mound, he’s in it just as much as I am. I love it. I feel like he’s my support.”

The way Najera describes Ramirez as being “in it” was evident in a Century Classic Tournament game against Calvary Chapel on April 9.

Segerstrom High coach Erasmo Ramirez, who played for the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics and Florida Marlins, brings a sense of community to the Jaguars ‘ program. FILE PHOTO
Ramirez, a graduate of Saddleback High, returned to Santa Ana in 2010 after a 10-year career in professional baseball. COURTESY OF SEGERSTROM BASEBALL

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